diff --git a/.release-please-manifest.json b/.release-please-manifest.json
index 69e82f1..6ed9c80 100644
--- a/.release-please-manifest.json
+++ b/.release-please-manifest.json
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {
-  ".": "2.6.0"
+  ".": "2.7.0"
 }
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 547a6b3..5d5c5da 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [2.7.0](https://github.com/kopexa-grc/comms/compare/v2.6.0...v2.7.0) (2026-03-29)
+
+
+### Features
+
+* add external template rendering with configurable branding ([#18](https://github.com/kopexa-grc/comms/issues/18)) ([17714e4](https://github.com/kopexa-grc/comms/commit/17714e4381147669eec984345d2878c836f7527b))
+
 ## [2.6.0](https://github.com/kopexa-grc/comms/compare/v2.5.0...v2.6.0) (2026-03-23)